It is important to note that many of our tours require a minimum number of people to sign-up before we can confirm, so please consult with us via email before booking accommodation if you are visiting specifically to take the tour.

It is also important to note that if you are taking a tour with flight, these tours are subject to change by a day or two each way, depending on flight availability at the time of purchasing flights.

What should we do if we are not happy with something on our tour? danpatman
2018-06-19T15:46:58+00:00

Your first step should be to talk to your tour leader. He/she will hopefully be able to help you out immediately and deal with any problems you may have as they arise. If you are not satisfied with the response, then you can contact one of our offices (contact information will be provided on an emergency card at the beginning of each tour). It is important not to wait until the end of the trip to tell us about any fixable issues that arose for you on the tour.

Can you arrange tours to places not on your website? danpatman
2018-06-19T15:45:26+00:00

For our bus tours we use privately rented first class buses with a bathroom, air conditioning and TV screens (we try to play documentaries related to your tour or Mexico in general). However, if you are part of a smaller group, then you would be travelling in a van or Mercedes Sprinter (this will be discussed before your tour).

Can I stay on after the tour has finished? If so will I get a discount/will you help me with accommodation? danpatman
2018-06-19T15:43:32+00:00

You are very welcome to stay on in the final location of your tour, but we request that you please be sure to let us know in advance. For bus tours there is no discount for not joining the return leg of the journey (unless you require fewer nights accommodation than that included in the tour), but for tours with flights, we will discount the cost of the return flight from your total fee (if the flight has not already been purchased at the time you inform us you won’t be returning with the group).

We can help you arrange accommodation in the hotels we use for the tour but cannot guarantee the same price we are given for the group bookings.

Can I purchase big things/how much space is there for us to bring stuff back? danpatman
2018-06-19T15:43:04+00:00

On bus tours there is generally a lot of space in the luggage compartments underneath the bus. We do ask that people are respectful of the rest of the group by making sure they leave space for others. For some tours the vendors can arrange to have particularly large items shipped for you; you can ask your tour leader to help you with this.

When taking a tour with flights, or in a smaller vehicle, luggage space is limited. Please ask us before the tour if you are unsure what kind of vehicle you will be travelling in.

Will we be on our own? Is there always a guide/tour leader with us? danpatman
2018-06-19T15:41:43+00:00

All of our tours are operated with at least one tour leader/guide. With larger groups there is often a tour leader as well as a guide, and in smaller groups the tour leader may also be your guide. You are given some free time on most tours but are given emergency information so that you can contact your tour leader or hotel at any time.

Are the areas we are visiting safe? danpatman
2018-06-19T15:41:11+00:00

Our trips take us to touristy areas which, for the most part, are safe. We do however, keep in contact with local guides and check local advisories to be sure there are no current unusual/dangerous events in the areas we visit. If we consider a tour location to be dangerous, we would either cancel the tour or change the itinerary to avoid the place in question.

It should be noted that in Mexico, as in most parts of the world, there is petty crime. For this reason, we always recommend that people leave behind expensive jewellery and are careful when handling cash in public, so as not to draw attention.

No pets are allowed on the tours, as it may inconvenience other passengers. If you have a service dog and cannot travel without it, then please contact us to ask so that we may contact the service providers (hotels, transport companies etc) that we use on the tour in question to ask if it is possible to travel with a service animal. Please note that laws regarding service animals in Mexico are not yet as developed as in other countries, such as the US and Canada, so we cannot force service providers to accept service dogs. In the event they are accepted, the owner will be asked to provide a certificate and a doctor’s note confirming that it is essential the owner does not travel without the dog and a summary of the condition in question.

We do not offer medical insurance and recommend that you have your own cover for your stay in Mexico, including your tour with Mex-ECO Tours. If you do not have insurance you will be asked to sign a waiver form before your tour begins.

Our tours are designed for people aged 50 plus; we will accept children over the age of 8, but please take into account that some of the tours include lengthy bus journeys and they are not designed with children in mind.

Can you add me to a mailing list so I receive news about upcoming tours? danpatman
2018-06-19T15:35:52+00:00

Of course. If you send us an email or fill out the form on the contact page we will add you to the mailing list for our tours. Please be sure to tell us which departure point you would join us from (Melaque/Manzanillo, Bucerías/Puerto Vallarta or Chapala/Guadalajara) so we can add you to the correct list.

Do you share my information with any other company? danpatman
2018-06-19T15:35:23+00:00

We do not share contact/personal information with anyone, but for tours with flights we do have to send your full name, nationality and date of birth to the airline, and sometimes hotels on the tours (mainly international tours) request a photocopy of your passport, which they will take in your presence.

What if I have special dietary requirements/allergies/special needs? danpatman
2018-06-19T15:32:58+00:00

It is a good idea to let us know if you have any special requirements when you sign-up, and we can let you know if we are able to meet your needs or not for the tour in question. Please be sure not to wait until you are on the tour to inform us of special requirements.

Can I reserve a specific seat on the bus? danpatman
2018-06-19T15:31:51+00:00

Please check the tour itinerary specific to your tour to see what is, and what is not included in your trip. Generally, we include transport (including flights on tours that involve a flight), accommodation, breakfasts and guides, but for some tours other meals and some entry fees are also included. Tips are never included.

Once you have signed up, you will be included in email updates once the tour in question has been confirmed (once we have the minimum number of people), when we require a deposit, and when we require final payment. In the event the tour does not get confirmed you will also be notified. If in doubt, please don’t hesitate to email/call us and ask.

Can we sign-up for a tour in advance, before we get to Mexico? Ruth Hazlewood
2017-08-02T02:11:36+00:00

Yes, in fact we encourage you to sign-up in advance, this way we get a better idea of which tours are going to be confirmed in advance, and you also reduce the risk of missing out on a place on the tour of your choice.

What do you need from us to sign-up for a tour? Ruth Hazlewood
2017-08-02T02:09:50+00:00

For any of our tours we just require your names and email address (or hotel/address and phone number if you do not use email). We don’t ask for payment until we have the minimum number of people required in order to confirm a tour.

Yes, for tours that are prices in MXN you can pay in USD or CAD in cash or by cheque in any of our offices; you will be given the exchange rate on the day given by our bank, so that we get the required amount in pesos.

For tours that are priced in USD (international trips), you may also pay in MXN or CAD and you will also be given our bank’s exchange rate on the day of payment.

For tours which DO NOT INCLUDE FLIGHTS, Experience Mex-ECO Tours reserves the right to give no refund for cancellations made on behalf of the client less than 2 weeks before the tour departure date. Experience Mex-ECO Tours reserves the right to retain the 25% deposit for cancellations made between 2 and 4 weeks before the tour departure date, unless the deposit, or part of it, has been used to confirm accommodation/other reservations for the client and is non-refundable by the service provider in question. A full refund will be given for cancellations made more than 4 weeks before the tour departure date, unless the payment, or part of it, has been used to confirm accommodation/other reservations for the client and is non-refundable by the service provider in question; in this case, the remaining amount will be refunded to the client.

Please note that in the event of a client cancelling a tour, Experience Mex-ECO Tours will try to claim back any deposit(s) from the service provider(s), or sell the reservation to another client, in order to reimburse the client in question, but this is not always possible.

For tours which DO INCLUDE FLIGHTS, Experience Mex-ECO Tours reserves the right to give no refund for cancellations made on behalf of the client less than 3 weeks before the tour departure date. Experience Mex-ECO Tours reserves the right to retain the 25% deposit for cancellations made between 3 and 5 weeks before tour departure date, unless the deposit, or part of it, has been used to confirm accommodation/flights/other reservations for the client and is non-refundable by the service provider in question. A full refund will be given for cancellations made more than 5 weeks before the tour departure date, unless the payment, or part of it, has been used to confirm accommodation/flights/other reservations for the client and is non-refundable by the service provider in question; in this case, the remaining amount will be refunded to the client.

Please note that in the event of a client cancelling a tour, Experience Mex-ECO Tours will try to claim back any deposit(s) from the service provider(s), or sell the reservation to another client, in order to reimburse the client in question, but this is not always possible.

International tours:

Experience Mex-ECO Tours reserves the right to give no refund for cancellations made on behalf of the client less than 4 weeks before the tour departure date. Experience Mex-ECO Tours reserves the right to retain 50% of the tour cost for cancellations made between 4 and 6 weeks before tour departure date, unless the payment, or part of it, has been used to confirm accommodation/flights/other reservations for the client and is non-refundable by the service provider in question; in this case, the remaining portion of the 50% of refund will be returned to the client. A full refund will be given for cancellations made more than 8 weeks before the tour departure date, unless the payment, or part of it, has been used to confirm accommodation/flights/other reservations for the client and is non-refundable by the service provider in question; in this case, the remaining amount will be refunded to the client.

Please note that in the event of a client cancelling a tour, Experience Mex-ECO Tours will try to claim back any deposit(s) from the service provider(s), or sell the reservation to another client, in order to reimburse the client in question, but this is not always possible.

How can we pay for our tour if we are not yet in Mexico? Ruth Hazlewood
2018-05-18T17:32:35+00:00

Yes, you can pay by credit or debit card in any of our offices (Melaque, Puerto Vallarta or Bucerías), or on the internet via paypal (please request that we send you a paypal invoice). Unfortunately we CANNOT TAKE CARD PAYMENTS OVER THE PHONE, as this is not authorised for small tourism based businesses in Mexico.

When do you require full payment? Ruth Hazlewood
2017-11-09T19:33:01+00:00

Final payments must be made no later than 2 weeks before the tour departure date for tours which DO NOT include flights.

Final payments must be made no later than 4 weeks before the tour departure date for tours which DO include flights.

International tours (Cuba, Guatemala and Peru):

Final payments must be made no later than 6 weeks before the tour departure date.

Exceptions: In the event that the minimum number required to confirm a tour has not yet been reached within the time scales mentioned above, you may be asked for complete payment for your tour upon its confirmation.

Reservations may be made after the timescales mentioned above, depending on availability of places for the tour in question and flights (where applicable); in this case full payment will be requested to confirm your place upon signing up for the tour.

Failure to pay the full amount within the timescales mentioned above may result in the loss of your deposit and your place may be given to someone else.

When do you require our deposit? Ruth Hazlewood
2017-11-09T19:36:15+00:00

Generally we wait until the beginning of the tours season (October/November) to start requesting deposits, with the exception of our Day of the Dead tour, or other tours where accommodation needs to be secured further in advance (this can be the case for international tours).

For our day tours we request full payment as soon as we have the minimum number of people required in order to confirm the tour.

Tours within Mexico:

A 25% deposit is required in order to reserve a place on one of Experience Mex-ECO Tours’ trips.

International tours (Cuba, Guatemala and Peru):

A 50% deposit is required in order to reserve a place on one of Experience Mex-ECO Tours’ international trips.

Exceptions: In the event that the minimum number required to confirm a tour has not yet been reached within the time scales mentioned above, you may be asked for complete payment for your tour upon its confirmation.

Reservations may be made after the timescales mentioned above, depending on availability of places for the tour in question and flights (where applicable); in this case full payment will be requested to confirm your place upon signing up for the tour.

Please see your itinerary for recommended tipping amounts for guides and drivers. Where meals aren’t included we recommend leaving 10-15% tip as in Mexico, and where meals are included it is a nice gesture to leave around 1 CUC per person. For maids in hotels, it is also a good idea to leave 1 – 2 CUC per room per night, and we recommend leaving the tip each night, in case the maids change shifts before you leave.

How much to the extra activities cost and do you recommend them? danpatman
2018-06-25T15:05:31+00:00

We highly recommend both the Tropicana Cabaret, and if you are a fan, the Buena Vista Social Club. The Tropicana costs around $100 USD per person, including a three-course meal and drinks. The Buena Vista Social Club costs $60 USD per person with dinner (prices are subject to change before our next tour).

Despite Cuba being a poor country, things are not cheap. Restaurants in Cuba are similarly priced to those in touristy areas of Mexico, such as Puerto Vallarta. Take into account that several meals (see itinerary) are included in the cost of the tour, but you will need to budget for the rest of your meals depending on your taste (we recommend roughly 15 – 20 USD for each meal). There are some places where you might want to buy souvenirs, such as cigars or art work, so you should budget a little extra for those. Also, you will be sent information about optional extras, including the Tropicana Cabaret and Buena Vista Social Club, but these can be paid for before your tour.

IMPORTANT NOTE: U.S. BANK CARDS ARE NOT ACCEPTED IN CUBA, and ONLY VISA CARDS FROM NON‐U.S. BANKS ARE ACCEPTED.

There are two official currencies in Cuba, one is the Cuban Peso (CUP), and the other is the Cuban

Convertible Currency (CUC); there are 25 CUP to 1 CUC. The exchange rate from USD and CAD to CUC is around 1.00 and 0.76 respectively (subject to change). All tourists in Cuba use the CUC. You can exchange your money for CUC either in the airport (not usually the best rate), or in the hotels.

We recommend taking USD, as they are easy to change in the hotel or bank. If you have a non-US bank card, then you can withdraw money from ATM machines; if your bank cards are from the US (or US run banks, such as Citibanamex), then you should take some extra cash.

IMPORTANT NOTE: U.S. BANK CARDS ARE NOT ACCEPTED IN CUBA, and ONLY VISA CARDS FROM NON‐U.S. BANKS ARE ACCEPTED.

What kind of visa do I need to visit Cuba? danpatman
2018-06-25T14:59:47+00:00

You will need a valid passport and a Tourist Visa to get into Cuba. It is recommended that your passport be valid for at least 6 months after your trip. Each person must purchase their own tourist visa in Mexico City airport; please be sure to listen to your group leader explaining where to get the visa or ask him/her if you are unsure. The cost of the Visa is approximately 25 USD and it is valid for 30 days. You must keep this visa with your passport and be sure not to lose it.

Please also note that if you have a temporary or permanent resident’s card for Mexico, or have Mexican nationality, then you must fill in a tourist visa form at the immigration desk in Mexico City airport; you will be required to hand this in at immigration upon your return to Mexico.
You will also need health insurance for your trip to Cuba. For those of you who do not have an insurance policy, or only hold a US issued insurance policy, you can purchase it as part of the tour package at a cost of approximately $35 USD (subject to change). If you have your own health insurance policy, please be sure to check that it covers you for Cuba.

What is the weather like on this trip? danpatman
2018-06-25T14:59:02+00:00

Flights from Manzanillo and Puerto Vallarta are approximately 1 hour to Mexico City, and from there to Havana, just over 2 hours. Once in Cuba the longest trip on the bus is approximately 6 hours from Santa Clara to Havana, but we make rest stops along the way.

Is there a time difference at our destination? danpatman
2018-06-25T14:54:05+00:00

If you have space in your luggage then school supplies such as writing pads, pens, pencils, etc. are welcomed, as are personal hygiene products, such as tooth or hair brushes. If you prefer to give a monetary donation, there will be a collection basket passed round at the school and any amount is welcomed.

In Los Mochis and El Fuerte there is Wi-Fi, but mainly accessible near the reception/restaurant areas. Cerocahui (1 night) and Posada Barrancas (2 nights) do not have Wi-Fi. In Chihuahua there is Wi-Fi throughout the hotel.

Please check the tour itinerary specific to your tour to see what is, and is not included in your trip. This is one of the few trips where tips for bell boys and waiters are included, as well as several meals, but please note that tips for your tour leader, bus driver to Chihuahua and guide are not included.

The temperatures in the Copper Canyon may vary greatly. It is usually cool or cold at night and in the early mornings but pleasant during the day. Daytime temperatures may reach 25°C (77°F) and night-time temperatures can drop to below 0°C (32°F), but this is not always the case. We recommend taking sunblock and a hat/cap for the day time and long pants and a sweater/jacket for the evening. It is unlikely that there will be rain during your trip (unless you are booking a private tour between June and October).

The hotels in Cerocahui and Divisadero have heating in the rooms.

What is the highest altitude we reach? danpatman
2018-06-19T17:37:47+00:00

The flights each take just over an hour plus waiting times in Mexico City airport; for those travelling from Manzanillo airport, the waiting time in Mexico City might be several hours, as there are limited departures from Manzanillo.

The longest bus journey is from Divisadero to Chihuahua. The total time on the bus is about 5 hours, not including lunch/bathroom stops. The journey to the Urique Canyon lookout takes approximately 1 hour each way.

Is there a time difference at our destination? danpatman
2018-06-19T17:35:37+00:00

San Cristóbal de las Casas is colder due to its altitude, with temperatures in the day reaching 25°C (77°F), and at night dropping sometimes to 6°C (43°F). Palenque has a tropical climate, so temperatures and humidity are higher, reaching around 28°C (77°F) during the day, and usually around 18°C (59°F) at night.

We recommend packing sunblock and a hat, as well as some warmer clothing (pants and a sweater/jacket) for evenings in San Cristóbal.

What is the highest altitude we reach? danpatman
2018-06-19T17:29:33+00:00

In the town of Zinacantan the altitude is 2,558 meters/8,390 feet above sea level; we make a short visit to this town with little walking involved. In San Juan Chamula (also a short visit, but a little more walking is involved), the altitude is 2,270 meters/7,448 feet. In San Cristobal de las Casas (where we spend 3 nights), the altitude is 2,200 meters/7,218 feet above sea level. In Palenque the altitude is just 60 meters/109 feet above sea level.

The two flights to Tuxtla Gutierrez each last about 1 hour, followed by approximately 1 hour by bus to San Cristobal. The drive to Palenque via the waterfalls of Agua Azul and Misol Ha takes 6 to 7 hours, depending on traffic, not including stops. The trip from Palenque to Villahermosa takes approximately 2 hours.

In the daytime the temperatures are normally around 25°C (77°F), and night-time temperatures are cooler and can get as low as 10°C (50°F). We would recommend that you pack sunblock and maybe a hat for the day time, and a sweater and long pants for the evening.

The journey from Melaque or Bucerias each take about 5 ½ hours including restroom stops. The trip from Guadalajara to Chapala is approximately 1 hour. All times may vary depending on traffic conditions.

This trip has flights, what are my luggage allowances? danpatman
2018-06-19T15:50:13+00:00

Generally luggage allowance is 1 piece of checked luggage (weight may vary between 15 kg to 25kg depending on the airline we are using) and 10kg of hand luggage per person. You will be notified in your pre-departure emails of limits and restrictions for luggage.

It is important to know that the same rules apply as with your international flights, with respect to carrying liquids, sharp objects etc. in hand luggage. Please ask if you are unsure. If you have any unusual items that you need to take with you (such as breathing apparatus), but aren’t sure of the airline’s rules, then please contact us in advance of your departure date so that we can check with the airline.

No photos are allowed in the church in San Juan Chamula, but you can take photos of the church from outside, and in the rest of the town. Your guide or tour leader will remind you of this before entering.

Is the tour to the copper town included in the price of the tour? Ruth Hazlewood
2017-08-03T03:17:45+00:00

Yes, all of the places we visit in this itinerary are included, however, you are not obliged to go and may choose to spend some more time in Patzcuaro. Santa Clara del Cobre (the copper town) is however, very highly recommended.

What is the mximum altitude we reach on the Copper Canyon tour? Ruth Hazlewood
2017-08-03T03:15:08+00:00

This cultural event is a very popular tourist attraction in the Pátzcuaro region, so we must book our hotel rooms and transport well in advance. We usually recommend signing up by July so that we can confirm our booking with hotels. You can still sign-up after July as long as the tour has been confirmed and there are still spaces left. The sooner the better!

What is the weather like in Copper Canyon? Ruth Hazlewood
2017-08-03T02:49:44+00:00

You need to take warm clothing for this tour. Generally it is warm during the day time, but temperatures can drop to below 0°C at night. All rooms have heating, but it can be cold in the hotel reception/dining areas in the evenings, so we strongly advise to take long pants, sneakers and a sweater and/or jacket.

Is it a difficult walk to get to the butterflies? Ruth Hazlewood
2017-08-03T02:46:31+00:00

Yes. The reason the walk is difficult is that we reach an altitude of just over 3,000 meters/9,850 feet. At a slow pace the walk should take approximately one hour. There is also the option of taking a horse to the top, which takes approximately 15 minutes and has a cost of approximately $100 pesos each way (you can take the horse one way or both ways). We have had very few people who have not managed to get to the top, it is a question of pacing yourself and acclimatising to the altitude.

This depends on the size of your group. We recommend a larger group for any tours with long bus journeys, as it is much more comfortable in a full sized bus than in a 12-15 seater van or a 19-21 seater Mercedes Sprinter. In the event you have a smaller group, we would use either a van or Sprinter, but always leaving a few spare seats to allow for some extra space and making more stops along the way to stretch legs/use bathrooms.

How many people do we need for a private group? Ruth Hazlewood
2017-08-03T00:07:46+00:00

We can run private tours for just one person if requested, but please take into account that our tours are operated with qualified guides that stay with you throughout the trip, and we must cover the cost of their wages, hotels, meals, transport etc. This means that the fewer people in your group, the more expensive the tour is going to be. The prices advertised on our website are based on a minimum of 15 or 20 people and open to the public; for private groups please request a quote.

If your guide is going to be with you throughout the whole tour, then we recommend tipping at the end of the trip and the same for drivers. If it is unclear whether you will have the same guide and driver for the entire trip, please ask your guide at the beginning of the tour, or our office staff leading up to your tour.

Who should we tip on the tour? Ruth Hazlewood
2017-08-03T03:22:24+00:00

This may vary depending on the tour, we recommend checking in the tour specific section or on the itinerary for the tour you are interested in. None of our tours include tips for guides and drivers, but some include other tips.

Minimum suggested tips for tours within Mexico (please note tips are based on service and this is a minimum amount we recommend, but please feel free to tip what you feel is deserving): $50 pesos per day per person for guides, $30 pesos per day per person for drivers and $20 pesos per night per hotel room. For international trips please see the specific itinerary for your tour.